Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1887-07-27
Setting Up the Pins for Cleveland.

s~SsssAAS
of party organization, but when it
comes to the choice of leader for
great party in National campaign the
great thing is to obey the commands OF
public sentiment If Grover Cleve-
land wants to be renominated he must
make himself the actual cEoice of that
great non office seeking mass of his
party which must be deferred to or de-
feat at the polls would be foregone
conclusion. If he should win the prize
by the cunning manipulation OF hench-
men it would be only the stepping
stone to disaster. The only possible
chance for him to be elected would be
to SO conduct himself as to achieve
some genuine popularity. Thus far he
has made little if any headway in cap
turing the popular heart. He has
about one more year in which to make
up for lost time.
No political party can afford to ignore
the Importance of personal popularity.
Twice only did the Wings carry the
country, and in both cases it was be-
cause the candidate was stronger than
the party which nominated him.
Gems. Harrison and Taylor had records
which more than made mp for any def
ciencies in their individual power to
awaken enthusiasm, and each was pitted
against politician of cold and selfish
temperament. In 1876 the Republi-
cans, with all their strength. came very
near defeat because they made the mis-
take of nominating man singularly
deficient in magnetic power. Four
years later they had leader who
needed only to be "lifted up" to draw
men to him. Mr.. Tilden did not need
o mugwump detection or Burchard
bigotry to insure New York. He car
red it by large majority, and that be-
cause he had personal popularity and
Mr.. Hayes had not. The New York
delegation in the Republican Conven-
tion. controlled by Mr.. Conkling,
dictated the nomination of Hayes, and
their own party in the State admins
tered q stinging rebuke at the first op-
po.tunity. Four years later that dele
cation, under the same malign infiu-
ence, was unable to influence the nom.
ination, and New York came out strong
at the polls, the Republican victory be-
ing by large majority, and all this
because one candidate had the power
to call out the latent vote and the
other had not. The admonition Of ex-
perience is equally applicable to both
parties.
In 1884 Mr.. Cleveland had the sd-
vantage of being SO little known that
bis party could rally about an ideal,
much as the Republicans in 1856 raj
lied with enthusiasm about John @.
Fremont. The public had had in
neither case an opportunity to take the
mans measure. But the President
cannot enjoy that advantage second
time. The black horse is bleaching
out, and will be at least light gray
by 1883. If he runs ct all it must be
upon his actual popularity and moi
upon the strength OF an ideal fancy.
Artificial attempts to get up renomi.
nation boom will be sheer waste oi
time and effort. The needs OF the
country require genuine statesmanship
in dealing with the more pressing
questions Of the day, and Mr.. Cleve-
land has thus far shown no appreciation
whatever of them-not 30 much - {
faint conception Of what is really going
ON in the country. The little world o
Office seeking and dispensing, together
with official routine, bears about thu
same relation to tho great interests oI
the nation that the District Of Colum
bia does to the United States Ths
narrowest proyincialism on this CONT
tinent is to be found within the boun
| dariaa of the District. and Mr.. Clev0
land cannot afford to restrict his rang,
OF vision to those more immediate sur
roundings. With the enterprise of tn.
country paralyzed by labor dificultiel
and every avenue Of industry fast fill
ing with the dregs OF Central Europe
there is something more important To-
this administration to do than setting
up pins for itself, and Mr.. Cleveland
would do well to remember that th.
boys ct the lower end Of the alley ar'
not the bowlsrs in the game. Chicag'
Tribune